b-side’s Big Weekend 2025

Bold Art, Hidden Stories & A Spectacular Fringe

Portland Parade - Jayne Jackson

11–14 September 2025 | Portland, Dorset

Every September, Portland transforms into a giant stage for b-side’s Big Weekend – a four-day celebration of adventurous, thought-provoking art. From cliffside projections to hidden quarry installations, the island comes alive with performances, films, workshops, and unexpected encounters that invite you to see this extraordinary place in a whole new way.

This year, as part of Portland & Weymouth Towns of Culture 2025, the Big Weekend celebrates untold stories of resilience, joy, and community – from military families and unusual lives, to those seeking sanctuary. Expect bold ideas, moving testimonies, and plenty of moments that will surprise, challenge, and inspire.

Whether you’re parading through the streets, stitching stories into the Portland Dress, or taking a dip for an open-water synchro workshop, the Big Weekend is your invitation to connect with people, place, and creativity like never before.

Portland Dress Possibilities

2025 Highlights

• Pub Grub, Luke Wright - Sticky-floored poetry, big laughs, and razor-sharp rhymes from the master of mischievous verse.
• Green Apples - Choreographed by Mark Bruce to the music of the White Stripes, a powerful duet performed in a boxing ring.
• Excess Baggage - Immersive sound and video installation uncovering the overlooked stories of Portland’s naval families.
• MAS(S) - Generative sound sculptures transform refugee testimonies into a powerful coastal siren call.
• Section 28 and Me – Tom Marshman - A moving and playful performance exploring the legacy of Section 28 and queer resilience.
• The Portland Dress - A community-stitched artwork debuting its tapestry of Portland voices.
• Almost Synchro - High-tide synchronised swimming in Portland Harbour – join the performance or cheer from shore!
• Parade 2025 - Our weird, wonderful, and fully accessible community parade – dress up, join in, and celebrate Portland’s spirit with live music from Tongues of Fire.

Green Apples - Mark Bruce Company

Plus: The Fringe!

Alongside the main programme, the Fringe bursts onto the scene with independent exhibitions, performances, and pop-up events across the island – proof (if you needed it) that Portland’s creative energy is unstoppable.

Save the Date: 11–14 September 2025 Portland, Dorset

Go for the art. Stay for the stories. Leave seeing Portland differently.

Full programme and tickets: b-side.org.uk